No. The 20 amp breaker is probably protecting a #12 wire. Connecting a 40 amp breaker to the 20 amp #12 wire would seriously overload the #12 wire. This means that if the load increased to a full 40 amps the insulation on the smaller size wire would most likely melt off and the wire could short out.
no. the breaker is 40amps.fire hazard
Look on the heater and see what amps it is pulling. That will determine the wire size and breaker size. It must be on a dedicated circuit. 15 amps = AWG # 14 wire with 15 amp breaker 20 amps = AWG # 12 wire with 20 amp breaker 30 amps = AWG # 10 wire with 30 amp breaker 40 amps = AWG # 8 wire with 40 amp breaker
Depends on the size of the wire going to the A/C. If the wire is AWG #10 you cannot install a 40 amp breaker. If the wire is AWG #8 you can.
No a #12 wire is only rated for 20 amps. The 40 amp breaker will not protect the #12 wire. A 40 amp breaker should have a #8 wire connected to it which is rated at 45 amps. The only time that a breaker is allowed to be bigger that the wire size rating according to the electrical code is when a motor is connected to the breaker. This is to stop the 300 percent inrush of the motor full load amps from nuisance tripping a smaller sized breaker.
No, because if you switch a 50-amp load on, it will blow a 40-amp circuit breaker if the load exceeds 40 amps, which is likely.
no. the breaker is 40amps.fire hazard
Look on the heater and see what amps it is pulling. That will determine the wire size and breaker size. It must be on a dedicated circuit. 15 amps = AWG # 14 wire with 15 amp breaker 20 amps = AWG # 12 wire with 20 amp breaker 30 amps = AWG # 10 wire with 30 amp breaker 40 amps = AWG # 8 wire with 40 amp breaker
In North America the standard sizes for breakers are 15, 20, 30, and 40 amps. The 15 amp size breaker is used in general circuit wiring. The 20 amp size breaker is used for dedicated appliance receptacles, hot water tank and baseboard heating. The 30 amp size breaker is used for a clothes dryer. The 40 amp size breaker is used for the electric range.
Depends on the size of the wire going to the A/C. If the wire is AWG #10 you cannot install a 40 amp breaker. If the wire is AWG #8 you can.
No, because if you switch a 50-amp load on, it will blow a 40-amp circuit breaker if the load exceeds 40 amps, which is likely.
No a #12 wire is only rated for 20 amps. The 40 amp breaker will not protect the #12 wire. A 40 amp breaker should have a #8 wire connected to it which is rated at 45 amps. The only time that a breaker is allowed to be bigger that the wire size rating according to the electrical code is when a motor is connected to the breaker. This is to stop the 300 percent inrush of the motor full load amps from nuisance tripping a smaller sized breaker.
A 30 amp breaker is designed to trip at an earlier point than a larger 40 amp breaker so one appliance that operates on lower amperage level could be unsafe or damaged before it could trip the higher 40 amp breaker. Also, the existing wiring may not be rated for 40 amp service.
10 amps
Not unless you change the wiring for that circuit. The breaker protects the wiring and if you install a 40 amp breaker on a 15 amp wire circuit you will have a fire in your home.
Yes. You should use 8 AWG wire from breaker to AC unit.
Usually 30 amp
No. The two appliances usually have dedicated circuits. The range will have a two pole 40 amp breaker and be fed with a 3-C #8 copper cable. The dryer will have a 30 amp two pole breaker and be fed with a 3-C # 10 copper cable. As you can see by powering a 40 amp device from a 30 amp breaker, full operation of the range will trip the 30 amp breaker.